The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has dismissed claims by the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) that the Ogoni people are part of the Ijaw nation, describing the assertion as historically inaccurate and misleading.

In a statement issued on Sunday, MOSOP said the Ogoni people constitute a distinct ethnic nationality with their own history, language, culture and political evolution, stressing that they cannot be subsumed under any other ethnic group in the Niger Delta.

The group noted that Ogoni identity is well documented and widely recognised at national and international levels, particularly in global discourses on environmental justice, minority rights and indigenous peoples’ struggles. It warned that attempts to redefine or reclassify established ethnic identities could fuel unnecessary tension and undermine peaceful coexistence in the region.

MOSOP urged Niger Delta groups to exercise restraint and mutual respect in addressing sensitive identity issues, cautioning against narratives that could deepen divisions among communities with shared socio-economic challenges.

The organisation called on leaders and stakeholders to redirect attention towards common development priorities, environmental remediation and the collective advancement of the Niger Delta, rather than engaging in what it described as divisive and unproductive identity debates.

Reaffirming its longstanding commitment to non-violent advocacy, MOSOP said it would continue to defend the cultural heritage, autonomy and legitimate rights of the Ogoni people within Nigeria’s constitutional framework.